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Kielder Water

Kielder water is a man-made lake that has become a major attraction in Northumberland as it is perfect for individuals or families that love nature, water sports, exploring, walking, cycling and much more.

The Lakeside Way is a 26 mile multi-user trail, suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users, that encircles the shoreline of Kielder Water.

Cycling and Walking in Kielder

The most commonly used route is to follow the shoreline around the lake along the Lakeside way. This route is approximately 26 miles long and for some people this is too long. There are also several shorter routes that take advantage of view points. It is also possible to cycle to ferry stopping points around the lake and catch the boat back.

Walkers and cyclist should be aware of severe weather conditions that can occur quite rapidly in the area. During extreme weather some paths may not be passable, high winds can make forested areas unsafe and ice can make some areas dangerous. Check in at the visitor centre to collect route maps and local path conditions.        Cycle Routes in Northumberland      Walking Routes in Northumberland

Kielder Water Ferry

One way to enjoy Kielder water is to take a ferry trip on the 60 seat motor cruiser ‘The Osprey’. The ferry makes a number of stops around the lake and the on-board commentary is a good opportunity to learn more about Kielder water and the area while enjoying the scenery and light refreshments in a warm cabin.

Kielder Water observatory

Kielder Water observatory takes advantage of the fantastic clear skies in Northumberland. As you can see from the photo, the building has a unique design.

Kielder water Bird of Prey centre

Kielder Water is a haven for wildlife and is home to around 50% of England's native red squirrel population. You can also spot otters, roe deer, badgers, bats and Ospreys.

The Bird of prey centre is open daily and you can see many different birds including Owls, Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Vultures and even Pelicans! In addition to this they have two very friendly Fallow Deer and a family of wallabies.

The centre offers different types of educational and hands-on experiences such as bird handling Falconry courses, school visits, hawk walks and flying demonstrations in the afternoon(weather permitting).

Kielder Castle Visitor Centre

Kielder Castle visitor centre is the focal point for visitors to the forest. The Castle houses a series of exhibitions about the forest and its wildlife, together with an information centre and Kielder Castle Cafe.

Sailing at Kielder

Kielder Sailing Club

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle’s imposing scale and coastal location have made it extremely popular with film and television directors. The castle has appeared in numerous productions.

The castle has a number of rooms open to the public including the King’s Hall with it’s minstrel gallery.

Best views of the castle are from the beach at low tide.


Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is a spectacular castle with lots to entertain both children and adults alike. In recent years it has also taken starring roles in a number of film and television productions, such as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's 2014 Christmas special and previously appearing as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter films. Throughout the year there are a series of events that include fire-eating jesters, courageous knights, master falconers, and even the occasional dragon!. Please check for opening times.

The Romans

Hadrian’s Wall

This is a popular destination for walkers who follow its winding path through the countryside.

Housesteads

 These are the ruins of a roman settlement. Set on a hillside with great views of the surrounding countryside.

Vindolanda

These roman ruins show how advanced the romans were when they lived in Britain. Under floor heating and toilet systems criss-cross the site.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne

Holy Island is cut off twice-daily by fast-moving tides. It is possible to drive across the causeway but essential you know the tide times otherwise you will be stranded for several hours. Many people have foolishly tried to drive across when the tide was coming in and needed to be rescued.

Rising from the sheer rock face at the tip of the island is Lindisfarne Castle. Built to defend a harbour sheltering English ships during skirmishes with Scotland. The island has tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes making it an ideal habitat for many types of wildlife. Visitors can see the oasional seal and several types of bird.

Lindisfarne Priory

Very little remains of the ancient priory. The North East and in particular Lindisfarne was attack by Viking invaders. The priory must have been very impressive originally judging by the richly decorated ruins.

Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle is open to the public and it is possible to enjoy a tour or even stay in self catering appartments. However, it comes with a warning - This castle is supposed to be the most haunted castle in England with many guests reporting sightings.

Farne Islands

One of the popular things to do in Northumberland is a boat trip to the Farne Islands that lie two to three miles off the Northumberland coast midway between the fishing village of Seahouses and the magnificent Castle of Bamburgh. As well as being the most famous Sea Bird Sanctuary in the British Isles they also have a large colony of Atlantic or Grey Seals. The Farne islands have about 70,000 pairs of breeding birds made up of 21 species. The boat trip also gives you fantastic photo opportunities for both wildlife and the castle.

Things to do Northumberland

Go Ape - Matfen Hall

Go Ape - Matfen Hall, near Newcastle - is a network of rope bridges, trapezes, tunnels and some new zip wires that stretches for roughly 1000 metres through the tree canopy. This is a fantastic experience where you will be trained in the use of harnesses, pulleys, carabineers and various safety methods by qualified instructors. You will then safely navigate through a tree top obstacle course to eventually finish on a brilliant zip-wire descent.


Find great things to do, the best Northumberland attractions, cheap family days out, romantic weekend breaks & fun things to do visiting Northumberland this weekend.